Prologus; Chapter 0

The Dump. Nothing but your typical junkyard, with mounds of trash heaped up to the heights, and an odor that could kill a horse. Nothing special, nothing new. The Tower of Babylon that stood behind it was foreboding, reaching beyond the heights of the very skyline, itself. It was amazing that a building this tall was even still standing, especially with such a menacing look upon its surface.

"... Guess I'd better get started," a woman who was stepping out from behind the very tower, itself, would say, beginning her own clean sweep first at the Dump. Her form was hidden in shadows, for she hadn't yet stepped out into the light. "I'll practice with whomever I find on the streets before I start getting to the ones that are near the heart of the city," she decided. Skulking the shadows, she awaited the sight of anyone that was walking around the Dump, nearest to the foot of the Tower of Babylon. She would not come out of the shadows until she saw a prospective target.

Overhead, the woman would be able to both see and feel the presence of the Spirit Guardian that had been released over the city, and emanating powerful vibrations like that of rushing water. In this downpour of waves, the woman would also be able to hear the voice of the watery maiden up high speaking to her, as if she were right next to her. "I'll let you know when I sense one..." the womanly voice of lucid tone said to her. "The Tower will be collapsing soon... So be sure to steer clear..."

The strange waves that emanated all over the city caused many things to happen, especially for people who were susceptible to be moved by them, or moved by someone who had already been influenced. As the Spirit Guardian watched on from up high, the woman would be tasked with tracing down low, and dealing with those on the ground as the Spirit Guide directed. Thus, their teamwork was of a bird's eye view and a ground level assortment.

Essentially, the mission was clear; collect and harvest. Simple enough, especially with one already parting the peoples via the waters overhead. "I read you," the woman of the shadows said, adjusting herself before stepping out. "Just gather the good ones and lead them out of the city."

When the woman stepped out of the shadows, she stood with two tonfas attached to the back of her hands and with a skirt like that of a kunoichi; split completely on the side and as short as a miniskirt, and as small as a loincloth. A relatively snug fitting croptop vest kept her breasts together, so that they wouldn't bounce as she moved. The two antennae upon her head twitched as she picked up on some signals. "Apocalypsebee here," she would say, evacuating the vicinity of the Tower before it collapsed and through the Dump, "I'm moving out." To be as inconspicuous as possible, moving through the Dump first was essential. When she was given a signal to gather one of the Variable Citizens, she would encroach.

Overhead, the watery mistress that hovered about the air, dancing elegantly, would say to Apocalypsebee, who had just started moving, "I sense someone whose soul is clean..." Where this person was, Apocalypsebee would be guided to them by the natural waves of the wavelengths flowing through the air. She would be pushed and attracted to this person nearby like a magnet, and would feel the vibrations intensify in her antennae as she drew near, and lessen as she grew farther away. "Don't dawdle," the woman up high said, "We don't have much time."

"Yeah, I hear you!" Apocalypsebee responded with a hint of frustration. "I can feel the vibrations in my antennae. Don't worry, I've got this under control." Where she felt more powerful vibrations, Apocalypsebee would move in that direction.

She took off through the Dump, knowing that the person in question wouldn't be within the confines, and ran out to the entrance of the Dump, looking both ways. "Which way...?" she muttered, waiting for a feeling from an outside force. She had to be able to trace or track where they were going and where they had been, so she stood steady and careful; quite aware of her surroundings. Apocalypsebee didn't want to move in the wrong direction and waste precious, valuable time, so she was sure to be patient so that she could get a proper reading. "Hmmmm..."

Once the bikini girl, Mizu, approached Apocalypsebee, the vibrations of her antennae would signal her profusely that this was the person that was spoken of. If she didn't receive the message, the voice of the watery maiden up above, Aqua, would speak to Apocalypsebee, saying, "This is the one I was talking about! Do not let her escape..." The wavelengths in the air condensed around the two, keeping them bound to their relative place and feeling uneasy, ike pushing against a flowing current, should either of them attempt to leave from each other. The two of them would be pushed together and until they conversed with each other, the feeling of a force pushing against them and making them uneasy would not let up. "Let her know why you're here... And then have her follow you to safety..." Aqua would giggle, saying finally, "I'll take it from there." The same forceful waves in the air that would push the two together would be the ones that would guide Mizu to the next location of safety and out of the city when Apocalypsebee was done explaining.

Apocalypsebee nodded her head in acknowledgement, then looked at the young woman who, strangely enough, was wearing a bikini in the middle of the street; near the Dump, no less. She wasn't here to judge her, but to save her, so her strange attire that made her stand out at least differentiated her from the others who were, more or less, socially normal and completely looped together as probable beings to be exterminated. "Mizu!" she exclaimed with urgency, "I am uh... Apocalypsebee. I'm heading to find a friend of mine. Bunnybee. I hope you've heard of her." Probably, since this was Variable City, which Bunnybee had been regularly doing all types of random things in as she lived outside it. Her name was probably well known, quite honestly.

"The city is falling apart, starting with the Abandoned Tower, Babylon, right behind you." Apocalypsebee would point up to the weak, decrepit and rather grim looking building, which seemed like it was both condemned and could fall apart at any moment. "When that tower collapses, the rest of the city is going with it, and I'm evacuating people out of it." That was the gist of the entire situation, which Apocalypsebee hoped was clear. "What I need you to do is to tell your friends, and then come find me at the exit of the city. Bring as many as you can." Naturally, Apocalypsebee would be salvaging people all the way and explaining the same thing to others along the way, but this person, Mizu, was the first. "If you believe me, then please hurry. If not, then nevermind." Apocalypsebee had no time for convincing people, honestly. The situation was so urgent, she had to leave them if they wished to be left alone and move it along, without a fight. She tapped her foot somewhat impatiently, almost like she had to use the bathroom.

Apocalypsebee was relieved that this was easier to explain than she thought. Things weren't always so on the Veritas, but here, Bunnybee had already probably seasoned the Variable Citizens to strange and paranormal events. "Oh, thank God. That makes my job just a little easier." So, Apocalypsebee would start off toward the exit to Variable City, knowing that she was going to need to keep a close eye on Bunnybee after she was done with clearing out the city. During the time of the Invasion and the Conquest, Apocalypsebee was scheduled to get to Bunnybee right at the designated point of interception, by prior order from her father. She hadn't forgotten what he promised, nor what they were doing for the sake of the Queen. She only hoped that he was going okay. Ever since she left on her mission, she missed him, but could only think of him in spirit. "... Meta X..." she muttered fondly, suddenly feeling somewhat grim.

They would see each other again soon. Right now, this was her first mission, and one of the most important, and she wanted to do her father proud. She and Mizu continued on their way to the exit of Variable City, where Apocalypsebee would leave Mizu and continue on searching for more spotless people that didn't get mixed in with the masses of regular Variable Citizens.

The search continued.

(End)